49–010 

Calendar No. 245 

109TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 1st Session 109–153 

DELAWARE NATIONAL COASTAL SPECIAL RESOURCES 

STUDY ACT 

OCTOBER 19, 2005.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. DOMENICI, from the Committee on Energy and Natural 

Resources, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. 1627] 

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 

referred the bill (S. 1627) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior 

to conduct a special resources study to evaluate resources along the 

coastal region of the State of Delaware and to determine the suitability and feasibility of establishing a unit of the National Park 

System in Delaware, having considered the same, reports favorably 

thereon without amendment and recommends that the bill do pass. 

PURPOSE OF THE MEASURE

The purpose of S. 1627 is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resources study to evaluate resources 

along the coastal region of the State of Delaware and to determine 

the suitability of establishing a unit of the National Park System 

in Delaware. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED

The coastal zone of Delaware plays an important role in the history, culture and economy of the State. The shoreline extends for 

approximately 260 miles and no part of the State is more than 8 

miles from tidal waters. The Atlantic coastline consists of a series 

of barrier beaches and dunes from Cape Henlopen to Fenwick Island. The coastal resources of Delaware are an integral part of the 

State’s aesthetics and economy. Over 24 miles of sandy beaches, including 12 miles within State parks, and a diverse array of wildlife, 

including 45 terrestrial, over 280 marine, and over 200 avian species, are a part of the State’s coastal zone. 

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The study is to include consideration of Fort Christina. Located 

in present day Wilmington, Fort Christina was the first permanent 

settlement in the Delaware Valley. Fort Christina commemorates 

the colony of New Sweden when Peter Minuit’s expedition landed 

from the Swedish ships Kalmar Nyckel and Fogel Grip about 

March 29, 1638. 

More than 5 million people visit this area each year. The development pressure is intense, putting additional stress on the coastal 

environment. Authorization of a study is the first step toward determining appropriate protection strategies for this area. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

S. 1627 was introduced by Senators Carper and Biden on September 7, 2005. Similar legislation, S. 2899, was introduced by 

Senators Carper and Biden in the 108th Congress. 

The Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on S. 1627 

on September 22, 2005. At its business meeting on September 28, 

2005 the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ordered S. 

1627 favorably reported. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open business session on September 28, 2005, by a voice vote of a quorum 

present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 1627 as described 

herein. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1 entitles the bill the ‘‘Delaware National Coastal Special 

Resources Study Act.’’ 

Section 2(a) directs the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to 

conduct a special resources study of the coastal region of the State 

of Delaware for possible inclusion in the National Park System. 

Subsection (b) provides for inclusion in the study one or more 

sites, including Fort Christina. 

Subsection (c) directs the Secretary to consult with the State of 

Delaware, coastal region communities and the general public in 

preparing and conducting the study. 

Section 3 directs the Secretary to include 7 themes as part of the 

study: history of indigenous people; colonization and establishment 

of the frontier; founding of the Nation; transportation; coastal defense; the Underground Railroad; and the coastal environment. 

Section 4 states that the Secretary shall provide a report to the 

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the 

Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives containing the findings of the study not later than one year after funds 

are made available. 

COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS

The following estimate of costs of this measure has been provided 

by the Congressional Budget Office: 

S. 1627—Delaware National Coastal Special Resources Study Act 

S. 1627 would direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 

special resource study of sites in the coastal region of Delaware to 

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determine their national significance and to evaluate the suitability 

and feasibility of including them in the National Park System. 

CBO estimates that carrying out the proposed study would cost 

about $150,000 over the next year, assuming the availability of appropriated funds. Enacting S. 1627 would not affect direct spending 

or revenues. 

S. 1627 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would 

impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Deborah Reis. This estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 

REGULATORY IMPACT EVALUATION

In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following evaluation 

of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in carrying out 

S. 1627. The bill is not a regulatory measure in the sense of imposing Government-established standards or significant economic responsibilities on private individuals and businesses. 

No personal information would be collected in administering the 

program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal privacy. 

Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the enactment of S. 1627, as ordered reported. 

EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

The views of the Administration on S. 1627 were included in testimony received by the Committee at a hearing on the bill on September 22, 2005 as follows: 

STATEMENT OF JANET SNYDER MATTHEWS, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR CULTURAL RESOURCES, NATIONAL PARK

SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to provide 

the Department of the Interior’s views on S. 1627, a bill 

to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a Special Resources Study along the coastal region of the State 

of Delaware. The Department supports enactment of the 

legislation with one amendment regarding the time period 

provided for the study. 

While the Department supports the authorization of this 

study, it is important that future funding requests go towards completing previously authorized studies. There are 

currently 25 studies in progress, and we hope to complete 

and transmit 6 to Congress by the end of 2005. Therefore, 

the Department will focus the funding provided towards 

completing these studies. 

The coastal region of the state of Delaware has a long 

and distinguished history of Native American occupation, 

colonial settlement and contributions to this nation’s heritage. The region was populated by the Lenni Lenape and 

Nanticoke tribes before the period of European discovery. 

Early explorations of Delaware’s coastline were made by 

the Spaniards and Portuguese in the sixteenth century, by 

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Henry Hudson in 1609 under the auspices of the Dutch, by 

Samuel Argall in 1610, by Cornelius May in 1613, and by 

Cornelius Hendricksen in 1614. During a storm, Argall 

was blown off course and sailed into a strange bay, which 

he named in honor of his governor—Lord De La Warr. 

In 1631, 11 years after the landing of the English pilgrims at Plymouth, Massachusetts, the first white settlement was established by the Dutch. This was followed in 

1638 by the first Swedish settlement at ‘‘The Rocks’’ on the 

Christina River, where a fort was built called ‘‘Fort Christina’’ after the young queen of Sweden. Fort Christina in 

Wilmington, with a monument created by the noted sculptor Carl Milles and presented by the people of Sweden, 

perpetuates the memory of these first settlers and preserves ‘‘The Rocks’’ where they first landed. 

In the autumn of 1655, Peter Stuyvesant came from 

New Amsterdam with a Dutch fleet, subjugated the Swedish settlements, and established the authority of the Colony of New Netherlands throughout the area. The Dutch 

were eventually replaced by the English. In 1776 at the 

time of the Declaration of Independence, Delaware not 

only declared itself free from the British Empire, but also 

established a state government entirely separate from 

Pennsylvania. The State became the first to ratify the 

United States Constitution on December 7, 1787. 

The importance of the Delaware Bay and River to coastal defense during the American Revolution, the War of 

1812 and the Civil War was marked by the establishment 

of fortifications to thwart enemy ships from traversing the 

Delaware River to Philadelphia. Many of these resources 

remain to remind current generations of past struggles for 

independence, early nationhood, and preservation of the 

Union. Delaware became an important component of the 

Underground Railroad prior to the elimination of slavery 

during the Civil War. The Delaware River was and remains an important transportation link connecting Delaware and portions of Pennsylvania and New Jersey to 

world markets. 

The coastal region of Delaware also contains important 

natural resources adjacent to and including Delaware Bay 

and the Delaware River. It provides resource-based recreational opportunities for fishing, boating, swimming and 

crabbing. Delaware Bay is a major staging area for 

shorebird migration with truly spectacular numbers visible 

during the peak of migration. The region is replete with 

state parks and wildlife areas that protect resources and 

provide important opportunities for the public to appreciate and enjoy Delaware’s natural treasures. 

The region also has played an important role in industry, including the exploitation of water power. The outbreak of the Civil War, for example, found Wilmington 

with a strong industrial base, which responded to meet the 

great demands of waging war. Wilmington products included ships, railroad cars, gunpowder, shoes, tents, uniforms, blankets and other war-related goods. By 1868, WilVerDate Aug 31 2005 22:15 Oct 20, 2005 Jkt 049010 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6969 E:\HR\OC\SR153.XXX SR153
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mington was producing more iron ships than the rest of 

the country combined and it rated first in the production 

of gunpowder and second in carriages and leather. Industries thrived along the Delaware, especially the chemicals 

and materials company that was founded by the Dupont 

family in the 19th century and continues to be one of the 

largest chemical-related companies in the world. 

The Department suggests one amendment to S. 1627. 

Section 4 of the bill requires that a report on findings, conclusions and recommendations of the study be submitted 

to the Senate and House authorizing committees no later 

than one year after funds are made available to carry out 

the Act. We believe it more feasible to provide that this 

occur no later than three years after funds are made available based on the number of Special Resource Studies currently being conducted by the Department. 

If this study is authorized, the Department expects to coordinate this study with the recently authorized Captain 

John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Watertrail 

study, which will be evaluating resources along the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries including portions in the 

State of Delaware. 

Mr. Chairman, that concludes my testimony. I will be 

pleased to answer any questions from members of the 

Committee. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that no changes in existing law are made by the bill S. 1627, as ordered reported. 

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